Government refutes LTTE claim of economic embargo in Wanni
[24 Apr 2001]

Essential Commodities are transported to rebel held territory in the North under ICRC escort by the Sri Lanka Government.





The government today strongly denied the LTTE's claim that there was an economic embargo on the Wanni District in northern Sri Lanka. The denial followed an LTTE News Release dated April 23 which referred to the refusal of the government to allow the free flow of essential items such as food, medicines, fuel etc.

The Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) in a statement today said that the LTTE statement was a "malicious attempt to bring the Sri Lankan government into disrepute in the eyes of the international community."

"The government follows a consistent policy of supplying food to the uncleared areas of the Wanni despite the fact that they are living in LTTE controlled areas."

Whether there is a cease fire or not the government has been sending food Items regularly. There are no restrictions in the transport of essential Items. Therefore the question of lifting the ban does not arise."

"Food items to uncleared areas in the Wanni viz. Killnochchl, Mullaitivu, Mannar, & Vavuniya are regularly despatched through a Food Convoy program coordinated by the Government Agent, Vavuniya," the statement added.

"The allegation that the Government has imposed an Economic Embargo is not only baseless but also an utter distortion of the truth."

"The following Information and statistics will amply confirm that there is uninterrupted supply of essential items to Wanni. In addition to the CGES supplies, the Multi Purpose Cooperative Societies and private vendors too have transported essential items."

Food Items Dispatched (in MT):

"The transport of medicine for hospitals in uncleared areas is arranged by the Deputy Director of Health Services on a regular program of supplies by the Superintendent of Medical Supplies of the Health Ministry."

The following quantities of Kerosene and fertilizer have been transported in the year 2001:

Fertilizer - for use in Maha season 2000/2001

The Government Agent Vavuniya, who is co-ordinating the convoy program to the Wanni has reported that the following trucks of essential items were sent in Year 2000,2001:

It would therefore be seen that the Government has ensured that there is free flow of essential items to the Wanni to meet the requirements of the people in those areas.

However explosives, ammunition and related items are prohibited from transport to the Wanni. This restriction applies not only to uncleared areas but also to other parts of the country, the statement added." 

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